Memorial Health announced the selection of its new Chief Executive Officer effective upon closing, Shayne George, and the appointment of members to its new Advisory Board.

“With the planned integration into HCA’s South Atlantic Division, we are delighted to make these selections and welcome these leaders into new roles that will help guide our work in the coming years,” said Interim CEO Kerry Watson.

Upon completion of the integration of Memorial Health into HCA Healthcare’s South Atlantic Division, Shayne George will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer. In the coming weeks, George will be working collaboratively with Interim CEO Kerry Watson on transition planning. He will assume his CEO duties following the integration.

George is a long-time HCA Healthcare executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience. “We look forward to welcoming Shayne back to Georgia and to the HCA South Atlantic family,” said HCA South Atlantic President Hugh C. Tappan. “Shayne is an extraordinary leader. During his most recent role at HCA’s Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, he developed a successful Level II Trauma program; established a thriving Graduate Medical Education program with 120 residents and fellowships in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Pulmonary Critical Care; and expanded their cardiac program to include Trans Catheter Aortic Valve Replacement and the Watchman Device Program. He knows how to support strong, thriving specialty programs and will bring that strength here to Memorial.”

George began his healthcare career leading ancillary hospital departments in Georgia and Louisiana before stepping into officer roles with HCA hospitals in North Carolina, Augusta and, most recently, Florida. He saw first-hand the work of Memorial University Medical Center during the Imperial Sugar Refinery disaster when Memorial patients were transferred to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta, where he was serving as CEO at the time.

“The extraordinary care provided by the Memorial Health team during the Imperial Sugar event undoubtedly saved countless lives,” said George. “I was proud then to be aligned with a team like the one at Memorial in our effort to care for these patients and I’m delighted to have the opportunity to join that team officially.”

George has two sons. Ashton George, 21, is a junior studying aerospace engineering at Auburn University and Cole George, 19, is in Sound Design at the Savannah College of Art & Design. George earned his bachelor’s degree at Auburn University and both a MBA and master’s in Healthcare Administration from Georgia State University. He is an avid athlete and outdoorsman who enjoys rooting on his Auburn Tigers and spending time with family.

Following integration, George will work closely with the new Memorial Health Advisory Board, which was named and held its first meeting last night. With the integration of Memorial Health into HCA Healthcare, the current governance role of the Memorial Health Board and the Chatham County Hospital Authority will cease to exist in its current manner. The new Memorial Health Advisory Board is charged with ensuring that the Memorial Health team delivers the highest quality care with patient safety always at the forefront. The Advisory Board also serves as a critical linkage between the administrative team of the health system and the community. This first Advisory Board was deliberately designed to have equal membership from HCA, the prior Memorial Health Board and the Chatham County Hospital Authority to ensure continued knowledge and representation through the transition. Members named last night are:

• Bruce Barragan

• Curtis Lewis, III

• Charles F. McMillan, Sr.

• Ramon Meguiar, MD

• Frank Rossiter, Jr., MD

• Israel Small

• Hugh C. Tappan

• Terence van Arkel

• Susan A. Willetts